Police confirm Jasmine Macquaker’s body found

POLICE have confirmed that the body recovered at North Queensferry yesterday morning is that of Edinburgh teenager Jasmine Macquaker.

The 14-year-old, who disappeared on Sunday night, sparked an overnight search operation after she was last seen getting off a train from Waverley Station to Dalmeny at 8.30pm. Police officers pulled in specialist teams and partner agencies to scour the Dalmeny area, while an urgent public appeal was issued just after 5am calling for information on her whereabouts.

After confirming the body was Jasmine’s, police said her death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Jasmine’s family has issued the following statement:

“Mr and Mrs Macquaker have been appraised with all the facts concerning Jasmine’s last hours. They are extremely grateful for all the support from the Police in this tragic case as well as support from friends. At this stage, understandably, they request that everyone respect their privacy to grieve in peace at this very difficult time.”

Prize-winning Jasmine, from Stockbridge, was a Year 4 pupil at Queen Margaret’s School in York, a top boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18.

She previously attended Edinburgh’s Cargilfield School, near Cramond – the oldest independent boarding and day prep school in Scotland – before winning an art scholarship 18 months ago to continue her education south of the Border.

A promising student, she was overall winner of the National Schools’ Handwriting Competition last year, and in 2013 entered the Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for schools with a charcoal drawing of a woman inspired by Picasso.

The teenager, who is thought to have two younger sisters and a younger brother, was also a keen athlete and former member of Inverleith Swimming Club, and took part in the Yorkshire Regional Biathlon Championships in October 2014.

It was the last day of her half-term holiday as she made her way to Waverley Station on Sunday night.

Yesterday, police taped off a section of rocky beach in North Queensferry after a member of the public found a body at around 7am.

A white forensics tent was later erected, with four officers in overalls seen coming and going as the tide came in – eventually forcing police to move the tent further up the shore.

Uniformed officers made door-to-door inquiries along Main Street. Residents described news of the death as “heartbreaking”.